Go See London, Go See France: Do Not Postpone Your European Getaway Another Moment!

London is seriously unlike any other city I had ever been to before. Some of my fondest memories came from my week trip to London, and the trouble of having to add additional American passport pages, getting special electrical plugs and exchanging currency seemed so small once I arrived. London is unmatched in its unique quality, and getting to experience that first hand was life changing.

A lot of people get discouraged from traveling because of the preparation involved. My mom is one of those people. She cringes at the thought of having to spend days packing for a trip, or waiting on an endless line for a new pasport; she would rather just not deal with it. Don't let the planning that comes with traveling keep you from experiencing something life-changing. You would never get to know all the great things you were missing out on.

London is the place to go if you love art in all its forms. Even the street art was beautiful. The huge stone buildings, the tall shining statues, and the abundance of music made going to London a completely consuming experience. Even just walking down the streets of London is like walking through a living, breathing museum.

I spent a day at the Victoria and Albert Museum, or just the A and V Museum. Historical artifacts that span hundred or even thousands of years all sat in a huge room, and I had to walk around multiple times to make sure I saw it all. Exhibits of all kinds - from fashion to ancient, crumbling artifacts - were on display, and I left feeling pretty insignificant in comparison.

I also got to explore the Tate Modern Museum. Before I had explored it, I was generally disillusioned by the modern art I had previously experienced. However, stepping into this huge hangar-like building, I was instantly amazed by the variety of art that I saw in front of me. I spent hours not only looking at but also interacting with all the modern art, some laced with such powerful messages that left me feeling inspired.

My absolute most memorable experience of the trip was getting to go to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. I have an obsessive love for William Shakespeare and his work, and getting to see them performed in their element was just amazing. Since I had successfully raided the gift shop, I was a little low on money, so I opted to see the play as a "groundling." The play was breathtaking, and although my feet hurt a little, getting to stand at the foot of the stage was incredible.

I had such an amazing time in London, and, looking back, I realize I couldn't possibly imagine all the great experiences I would have missed if all the planning had kept me from going. If there is a destination that you've always wanted to see, whether it's Tokyo, Cancun, or London, don't miss out. Get a new U.S. passport or additional pasport pages, book a flight, and go take your dream vacation.